PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie men's basketball team battled the Ashland Eagles on Monday night, earning a hard-fought 86-82 victory. The win improves the Storm's record to 8-3 and marks their first G-MAC victory in three attempts.
Game Recap
The Storm came out firing, sinking three triples on their first four possessions to jump out to a 9-0 lead against a formidable Ashland squad. The Eagles quickly responded with eight unanswered points in just 60 seconds to close the gap. Despite the momentum swing, Lake Erie maintained control, building a double-digit lead several times in the first half. However, a buzzer-beater at the halftime horn gave Ashland their first lead of the game.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with Ashland holding a narrow two-possession-or-less lead for the first 18 minutes. That changed when Caleb Piks drilled a clutch three-pointer to give the Storm a 77-76 advantage. Exiting a timeout with 46 seconds remaining and a one-point lead, Lake Erie executed a perfectly designed play, and Derrick Anderson sank a critical three-pointer to stretch the lead to two possessions. Despite Ashland scoring twice in quick succession, Micah Bays and Anderson knocked down four crucial free throws in the final moments to secure the Storm's victory.
Analysis
The Storm executed a phenomenal game plan to contain Ashland's standout forward Maceo Williams, particularly in the first half. The 6'7" star entered the contest leading the G-MAC with 23.5 points and over nine rebounds per game. On paper, this matchup looked daunting for Lake Erie, given their lack of big-bodied defenders to counter Williams' physicality. However, the Storm's defensive strategy—relentlessly sending help and forcing skip passes—proved to be highly effective. In the first half, Williams was held to just two shot attempts, finishing the period with a mere three points and four rebounds. While Ashland adjusted in the second half by feeding him deeper in the paint, the Storm made every touch difficult. Holding a player of Williams' caliber to 20 points on contested looks was a major win for Lake Erie's defense.
Lake Erie's defense brought relentless energy, creating chaos for the Ashland backcourt. The Eagles, who came into the game averaging just 10.75 turnovers per contest, were forced into 11 turnovers in the first 20 minutes alone. Full-court pressure from the Storm made even crossing half-court a battle, exposing the Eagles' lack of preparation for such intensity. Capitalizing on these mistakes, the Storm turned defense into offense, scoring 21 of their 42 first-half points off turnovers. This defensive pressure set the tone early and kept the Eagles on their heels throughout the game
While Lake Erie's high-intensity defense paid off in many ways, it also came with a downside: frequent fouling. The Storm put Ashland in the bonus with over 12 minutes left in the first half, an almost unheard-of feat. As a result, the Eagles made 14 first-half free throws compared to just four for Lake Erie. Though this disparity allowed Ashland to keep the game close, the Storm's defensive persistence ultimately proved too much for the Eagles to overcome.
Through their first three G-MAC games, the Storm have demonstrated impressive hustle on the offensive glass, generating 34 more shot attempts than their opponents thanks to 32 offensive rebounds. These staggering numbers highlight Lake Erie's tenacity, though it hasn't fully translated to success on the scoreboard, as the team holds a 1-2 conference record so far.
At the free-throw line, the Storm opened the season with remarkable efficiency, hitting 127 of 159 attempts (79.9%) over their first seven games. However, their recent stretch has seen a noticeable drop-off. Over the last four games, Lake Erie has converted just 54 of 79 attempts (68.4%), while their opponents have taken full advantage, knocking down 80 of 93 (86.0%) during the same span. This disparity has been a critical factor in the team's recent results.
The Matchup
Monday's victory over the Eagles improves the Storm's all-time record against this familiar foe to 5-20, ending a six-game losing streak in the series. Lake Erie will look to build on this momentum and further chip away at the Eagles' dominance when the two teams meet again on January 25th for their second scheduled matchup.
Looking Ahead
The Storm will enjoy a well-deserved winter break to recover from fatigue and minor injuries, with their next game scheduled for January 2nd on the road against the Northwood Timberwolves. Though Northwood was projected by coaches to finish second-worst in the conference standings, they have proven to be a team that cannot be taken lightly. Under new head coach Tom Church—formerly at Tiffin for six seasons—the Timberwolves have impressed with dominant wins over non-conference opponents Purdue Northwest, Kuyper, and Davenport, as well as a recent 70-64 victory against Ohio Dominican.
Northwood is led in scoring by 6'7 forward Elijah Watson (13.9), followed by 6'5 Jamison Eklund (12.2), and 6'4 Will Young II (11.0). The 6'2 guard Brayden Szamrej plays heavy minutes off the bench and leads the team in assists (3.3), while 6'7 starter JT Morgan leads the team in rebounding (8.1).
Free throw shooting has been a glaring weakness for the Timberwolves. They have hit just 53.5% from the stripe this season, a truly abysmal mark. In a 62-54 loss to Cedarville, they shot an unbelievable 2-for-14 from the line, and in their opener against Ferris State, they managed just 4-for-13. Given Lake Erie's tendency to send opponents to the line often, this might be one matchup where the Storm can afford to be aggressive without much risk.
